Lit badge with roll stamp selective chroming

ABSTRACT

There is provided a badge adapted for a vehicle that includes a first portion formed from a first injection molded process of light transmissive material and a second portion formed from a second injection molded process of plateable material. The plateable portion provides a chrome exterior of trim. The first portion provides a light-through decoration where the light transmissive material is back lit with at least one lighting element.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a non-provisional patent application and claimsbenefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/351,135, filedJun. 10, 2022. The disclosure of the above application is incorporatedherein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a backlit emblem adapted for a vehicle,and method for manufacturing same incorporating roll stamp selectivechroming.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Known components with chrome have issues with delaminating and flakingof the chrome/paint and the processes known for making the componentsare also time consuming, labor intensive, and often results in a highercomponent piece price. Typical chrome parts, such as vehicle brandbadges, are known to have warranty issues stemming from delaminatingand/or flaking paint on paint-over chrome vehicle badges, which isasthetically displeasing and expensive to replace. One disadvantageousmanufacturing process chromes all of the molded parts, e.g., chromes theentire vehicle badge, then masks the parts before painting only portionsof the vehicle badge, e.g., such as painting only the letters. Thisresults in increased manufacturing costs, labor, and time, and warrantyissues. In one known attempt to remedy the aforementioned issues, a snaptogether design for a vehicle badge was employed with no painting,however, multiple parts with assembly are required. Such a design ismore expensive and mmanufacturing of the snap together component is slowand expensive.

Known components also do not allow incorporating of backlit lightingelements and light transmissive material.

Accordingly, a process is desired which is operable for molding a finalassembly that incorporates light-transmissive material and reduces areasof wasted chrome material, while improving manufacturing cost and time,and allowing predetermined hidden aspects until lit through.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Hidden until lit through trim pieces utilizing the selective chromeprocess. There is provided a badge adapted for a vehicle that includes afirst portion formed from a first injection molded process of lighttransmissive material and a second portion formed from a secondinjection molded process of plateable material. The plateable portionprovides a chrome exterior of trim. The second portion provides alight-through decoration where the light transmissive material is backlit with at least one lighting element.

Further areas of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It shouldbe understood that the detailed description and specific examples, whileindicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended forpurposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope ofthe invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a badge assembly, in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the badge assembly, in accordance withthe present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation view of the badge assembly broken along itslength, in accordance with aspects of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merelyexemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention,its application, or uses.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3 generally, there is provided a backlit badgeassembly, shown generally at 10, comprising at least one predeterminedfirst portion 12 of non-plateable material, at least one secondpredetermined portion 14 of plateable material, and at least onelighting device, indicated generally at 16. The non-plateable materialis most preferably light transmissive material.

Chrome is operably deposited, or its flow directed onto the plateablematerial portion 14. Chrome does not deposit on the non-plateableportion.

An injection molding assembly is provided. Preferably, a first injectionmolded shot consists of predetermined light transmissive material forforming the first part 12. The light transmissive material is notplateable. Preferably, a second injection molded shot consists of aplateable material for forming the second part 14. The plateablematerial is at least one predetermined material, such as chrome.

According to aspects of the present invention, the first part 12 canoperably blend in with the second portion 14 or is adapted to operablybe hidden until backlit through this decorative first part 12 portion.

Preferably, the at least one predetermined second portion 14 ofplateable material is substantially an exterior trim of the badge (oremblem, such as emblem/badge adapted to operably attach to a vehicle,e.g., with at least one fastener, snap-fit mechanical arrangement,etc.). Once plated, the badge then has a chrome exterior trim. It isunderstood that any at least one predetermined plated portion locations,shape, and dimensions are contemplated depending on the applicationwithout departure from the scope of the present invention.

At least one lighting device 16 is provided adapted to operably coupleto at least one predetermined location of the assembly 10. The at leastone lighting device 16 includes at least one lighting source 18, e.g.,light emitting diode(s) of the same or different color, rope LEDs, LEDson circuit board, etc. The light transmissive material in the at leastone first portion 12 is selectively backlit with one or more lightsource 18 in one or more colors. By way of non-limiting example, aplurality of interior segments of the badge are formed of the lighttransmissive material, and the exterior trim is the plateable materialthat is chromed, e.g., trim or lip of the badge and trim surroundingeach light transmissive portion/design, e.g., about numbers “1”, “2”,“O”, and letter “P”, for non-limiting illustrative purposes). Inaccordance with aspects of the present invention, the at least onelighting source 18 is operably embedded in predetermined injectedmaterial in at least one predetermined location. According to aspects ofthe present invention, the at least one lighting source 18 is operablyconnected to the assembly, e.g., with at least one fastener, adhesive,welded, IR welded, and any combinations thereof, in at least onepredetermined location.

According to aspects of the present invention, at least onepredetermined pathway 20 on the part is/are provided for directlychroming material as electric current is operably supplied for plating.By way of example, the assembly 10 is operably selectively coupled totravel along a predetermined chroming process line where chrome isoperably supplied as a predetermined electric current for apredetermined time is applied (e.g., via at least one predetermined parttab or other feature) for selective chroming.

It is understood that the badge 10 and plateable and non-plateableshapes are operably adaptable for any predetermined arrangementdepending on the particular applications without departure from thescope of the present invention.

It is understood that the second portion 14 could additionally oralternatively be a light transmissive material, and the first portion 12could be a plateable material.

According to aspects of the present invention, a final injection moldedassembly 10 is provided having one or more injection molded parts madeof non-plateable material, one or more injection molded parts, 12, 14,etc., made of plateable material, and at least one pathway 20 andincorporated features to direct flow path of chrome material to specificareas, and process for making same. The final injection molded assembly10, e.g., badge assembly, is manufactured using multiple shot injectionmolding for processing multiple parts of various materials in a singlemold. There is depicted an assembly for a motor vehicle configured toreduce wasted chrome while directing chrome to areas that need chromeand allowing backlighting through light transmissive non-platablematerial, in accordance with the present invention.

The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and,thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention areintended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations arenot to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of making a badge assembly operablyadapted for a vehicle, comprising: providing at least one injectionmolding assembly; providing at least one predetermined lighttransmissive material that is non-plateable; providing at least onepredetermined plateable material; providing at least one predeterminedthird material; injecting the light transmissive material into a moldoperable to form at least one first injection molded portion; injectingthe plateable material into the mold operable to form at least onesecond injection molded portion operably coupled to the first injectionmolded portion forming an injection molded assembly; and, operablyapplying a predetermined flow of the third material to the injectionmolding assembly operably to plate the plateable material with saidthird material.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providingat least one predetermined plating material path on said injectionmolding assembly operably adapted to deliver said third material to saidat least one second injection molded portion.
 3. The method of claim 1,wherein said third material is chrome.
 4. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising operably providing a predetermined electric current operablyadapted for plating said plateable material.
 5. The method of claim 4,wherein said third material is chrome.
 6. The method of claim 1, whereinsaid at least one first portion is operably adapted to provide alight-through decoration where the light transmissive material is backlit with at least one lighting element.
 7. The method of claim 1,further comprising operably advancing said injection molded assemblyoperably coupled to a predetermined plating process line where the thirdmaterial is operably supplied as a predetermined electric current issupplied for plating over said second injection molded portion.
 8. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising providing at least onebacklighting device operably coupled to the injection molded assembly.9. The method of claim 1, further comprising at least one backlightingsource operably coupled adjacent to said at least one first injectionmolded portion adapted to selectively provide said badge assembly withbacklight.
 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing atleast one light emitting diode operably coupled to the badge assemblyadapted to backlight at least the light transmissive material.
 11. Themethod of claim 10, wherein said at least one light emitting diode isoperably embedded in at least one predetermined location adjacent tosaid light transmissive material.
 12. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising providing a plurality of light emitting diodes selectivelyemitting different colors operably adapted to selectively backlight thelight transmissive material.
 13. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising operably coupling a plurality of light emitting diodes of thesame color emitted operably adapted to selectively backlight the firstinjection molded portion.
 14. A method of producing a badge assemblyoperably adapted for a vehicle, comprising the steps of: providing aninjection molding assembly; providing a chroming line path; providing aplateable material; providing a chrome material; providing a lighttransmissive material that is non-plateable; injecting the lighttransmissive material into a mold to form at least one first injectionmolded part; injecting the plateable material into the mold to form atleast one second injection molded part operably coupled to the firstinjection molded part forming an injection molded assembly; applying aflow of the chrome material to the injection molded assembly to platethe plateable material in the chrome material; and providing at leastone backlighting device operably coupled to the injection moldedassembly.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein said backlighting devicecomprises a plurality of light emitting diodes of the same or differentcolors emitted operably adapted to selectively backlight the firstinjection molded portion.
 16. The method of claim 14, includes at leastone light emitting diode.
 17. A badge assembly adapted for a motorvehicle, comprising: at least one first injection molded portion formedof a light transmissive material; at least one second injection moldedportion formed of a plateable material; and at least one lightingdevice.
 18. The badge assembly of claim 17, further comprising a chromematerial operably provided on said plateable material operably adaptedto provide a chrome exterior of trim.
 19. The badge assembly of claim17, further comprising providing at least one predetermined platingmaterial path on to said plateable material operably adapted to delivera third material over said plateable material.
 20. The badge assembly ofclaim 17, wherein the first injection molded portion provides alight-through decoration where the light transmissive material is backlit with the at least one lighting device.